Blast from the Past – Live Aid with Gary Hopkins

Organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia, Live Aid was a landmark dual-venue benefit concert held on 13 July 1985.

It became one of the most iconic moments in music and humanitarian history, (raising over £125 million – approx $125 million – from the concert alone) for famine relief, following the devastation of the 1983–1985 Ethiopian famine.

Some interesting facts:

• Concerts took place in UK and USA

Wembley Stadium, London, UK / John F. Kennedy Stadium,Philadelphia 

• Attended by over 160,000 people across both venues
• Broadcast to an estimated 1.9 billion viewers in 150 countries = nearly 40% of the world’s population!

Most Notable Performers:

Queen – Their 17-minute set, including “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “We Are the Champions,” is widely regarded as one of the greatest live performances in rock history

U2, David Bowie, Led Zeppelin, The Who, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Madonna, Bob Dylan, and many more

In a 5 – part series Gary Hopkins marks the 40 year anniversary of this amazing event as he remembers the concert in Live Aid 40.